Youth opts for amputation

Thursday

Jan 31, 2013 at 10:39 AMJan 31, 2013 at 10:42 AM

Lois Westermeyer

Seth Melvin of Cornell is a matter-of-fact young man. He states he is an eighth grader, he likes sports and that he will soon have his lower right leg surgically amputated.He says the last without fret or the whine of “why me.” He can do this because it is his own decision, one that his parents support.Melvin, 15, will have the surgery March 6 at Southern Illinois University Medical Center in Springfield, a procedure necessitated by a congenital birth defect that left him without a fibula bone in his lower right leg.To help defray medical expenses, First Lutheran Church of Pontiac, which the Melvin family attends, is holding a fashion show fundraiser this Saturday from 7 to 8 p.m. at the church. See related story.The young man not only doesn’t waste time dwelling on his condition, he said he’s looking forward to the surgery, as it will put him on the path of a level playing field.“I want to walk normally. I want to play sports again. I want to run track. I want to make the high school track team at least by my sophomore year,” he said. “A sports prosthesis will help me do all this.”It’s not that he has been sidelined his whole life because of this condition.“He’s been very active,” said stepmother Sarah Melvin. “He has been involved with everything, just like all boys.”But the condition, fibular hemimelia, is degenerative and it has left the right leg shorter than the left. Currently, the young man, who stands 5 feet, 11 inches, walks with a limp and has a leg brace and built-up shoe.While he still has a tibia bone in the lower leg for support, the condition has also affected his right foot, which the tendons can no longer hold in place, and that became the final impetus for the impending surgery.The Melvins have been consulting with an orthopedic specialist, who explained options for the youngster were a series of reconstructive surgeries that may have to be repeated and may still leave the foot displaced or amputation.After talking to Sarah and his dad, Dave Melvin, Seth decided on amputation.“I’m used to walking with a limp, so I feel like it’s normal. But then I catch a glimpse of myself walking in a mirror and I can see the limp. I want to walk normally. That’s what the prosthesis will do.”The surgery, which will be performed by Dr. Keith Gabriel, is expected to take about 90 minutes.He will then face months of physical therapy, learning to walk wearing a prosthesis and retraining his body to walk with a straight frame.“The doctors said it will affect his back and hips because he’s been compensating from his limp. He’ll have to learn all over again. They’ll talk about running therapy and a sports prosthesis after that,” Sarah Melvin said.The doctor also put him in touch with two others who have undergone amputations, a 16-year-old boy and a 61-year-old man.“The boy lost his leg to cancer, but it’s been very helpful talking to him. I can see him getting along fine and know I’ll be in that same spot soon. The older guy had his lower leg amputated at age 4 from the same condition I have. He said it didn’t stop him or slow him down. He’s given me some very good advice.”And while everyone’s recovery time is different, Seth Melvin is optimistic that he’ll make early strides in his therapy.“I’m hoping to be back to school in about one month. I’m in eighth grade and there’s a lot going on that I don’t want to miss,” he said, noting that he is also a class representative on Cornell Grade School’s Student Council. “I’ve played baseball and basketball and I love track. I love to run. But I haven’t been playing since July because the doctors didn’t want any stress or injury to the leg,” he said.“Everybody’s kind of freaking out because I’m not nervous, but I feel like I’m lucky because I get to choose. There’s lots of people who don’t get to choose,” he stated.Melvin did get a little stressed earlier this month when his surgery, scheduled for Jan. 9, had to be postponed because he developed a severe cold.“He was congested and the doctor felt that he might be susceptible to more infections if they went ahead with the surgery then,” said Sarah Melvin. “So it was a little hard after bracing for it to have it postponed.”Mrs. Melvin admitted that the surgery is harder on her than it is on Seth, himself.“He’s walking around the house and trying to lighten the mood by telling jokes about his leg and acting silly. We support his decision 100 percent, but it’s still a lot to take in.”The young man, meanwhile, is focused on his future, noting that he’ll turn 16 next January and be ready to drive, hopefully with no special restrictions.That’s good news to the Melvins, whose blended family includes children Alyson, 15, Dylan, 12 and Asher, 2.“I just want to get it over and get going again,” Melvin stated.

First Lutheran Church plans Melvin fundraiserThe First Lutheran Church of Pontiac and two businesses are holding a fashion show fundraiser Saturday evening to help the family of a young man who will have a lower leg surgically amputated in March due to a medical condition.Pastor Heidi Punt said the event will help the family of Seth Melvin, 15, of Cornell, who will undergo his surgery March 6.His father and stepmother, Dave and Sarah Melvin, along with their children, previously resided in Pontiac before moving to Cornell six years ago. They remain members of the Pontiac church, located at 311 W. Grove St.“The youngsters in the youth group know Seth and when they heard about his surgery, they came to me and asked ‘What can we do to help.’ They wanted to get involved,” said Punt.At about the same time, Courtney Lucas, owner of Charmed Boutique in Pontiac, had offered her services to the church.“It just came together from there,” Punt added.About 15 young girls will be helping with the event, with some modeling outfits from Charmed Boutique and accessories from Korri Mehrkens’ Paparazzi Jewelry from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Once the fashion show is concluded, refreshments will be served by other youth volunteers. A free-will offering will be taken for the Melvin family and Mehrkens said that profits from all accessories sold that evening will go to the Melvins.“Their support has been tremendous,” Sarah Melvin said. “They held a bake sale last fall that was a big success. We have medical insurance, but there will be out-of-pocket expenses. The doctors told us that during Seth’s lifetime, the costs of prostheses could be around $300,000. This is a big help to us and the church has been so supportive,” she said.“This group of kids has such a heart to serve, it’s really remarkable,” added Punt. “These youngsters have a maturity that is not always seen. It makes them want to reach out beyond themselves.”The pastor added that she’d like to see attendees bring a canned food item for the Livingston County Food Pantry.For more information on the event, call 815-844-3695.